Use the Skill IQ suite assessments to find your skill gaps, to prepare for an industry exam, or to signal real job readiness across a variety of tech topics.
Looking for analytics for assessments in the Skill IQ suite? See Viewing data and analytics.
Skill IQ suite overview
Skills offers three types of learner assessments: Skill IQ Discovery assessments, Skill IQ Prep assessments, and Skill IQ Verified assessments. Each assessment type is used for different purposes during your learning journey:
- Skill IQ Discovery is a comparative assessment used for wayfinding in Skills. It compares your performance against other learners who took the same assessment.
- Skill IQ Prep is a tool to assist you in preparing for an industry certification. Build your confidence in a timed environment and learn where you need to improve.
- Skill IQ Verified is an assessment that measures your proficiency against a standardized threshold. Confirm your skill or job readiness.
To get started with the Skill IQ suite, click Skill IQ in the navigation menu. This takes you to the Skill IQ page, where you can select from one of the three assessment types. Click Browse to explore assessments you can take.
Skill IQ suite at a glance
The three Skill IQ suite assessments are Skill IQ Discovery, Skill IQ Prep, and Skill IQ Verified. Each has a different format and retake window.
While assessment types have some overlap in features and functionality, each type is used for different purposes. See the chart below to compare each assessment type.
| Skill IQ Discovery | Skill IQ Prep | Skill IQ Verified | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 20+ questions | Varies by assessment | Varies by assessment |
| Timed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scored | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| How often can I take it? | Once every 14 days | Unlimited | Once every 7 days* |
| Can I see my score/results? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Can I see the answers? | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Can leaders see my results? | Range only; Average in a group of 5+ | ✓ | ✓ |
* For most Skill IQ Verified assessments↩
Skill IQ Discovery
Skill IQ Discovery assessments are used to identify where you should start learning in a particular technology skill. A Skill IQ Discovery assessment consists of 20+ multiple-choice questions and is timed, each attempt taking approximately 15 minutes to complete. This assessment is timed at the question level.
Use the assessment’s result, or Skill IQ Discovery score, to determine where you should start your learning journey. Your score is based on how you did on the assessment compared to others who took the same assessment. Remeasure your Skill IQ Discovery score with a retake.
Leaders can see your Skill IQ Discovery range from novice to expert and your percentile but won’t be able to see your specific Skill IQ Discovery score or the answers you selected.
Learn more about Skill IQ Discovery.
Skill IQ Prep
Skill IQ Prep is a study tool created to assist you in getting ready for a particular industry certification exam. These assessments are based on their real counterparts and feature questions similar in topic and domain. These assessments are created by Pluralsight.
Each assessment is timed to imitate the testing environment and is around the same length of the real exam. Results of assessment attempts are visible to admins and/or managers.
Learn more about Skill IQ Prep assessments.
Skill IQ Verified
Skill IQ Verified assessments are criterion-referenced assessments that validate your skills. A criterion-referenced assessment means that your score is compared to a cut score, or a threshold created by subject matter experts. These assessments are intended to provide managers and admins with credible data about your proficiency, providing a verifiable record of your capabilities.
Each assessment is timed. Assessment timer length and number of questions vary by topic. While you won’t see what questions you missed or learn the assessment’s threshold when you’ve completed your attempt, you'll see suggested content to address identified knowledge gaps.
Leaders can see your score, whether or not you passed, and the number of attempts it took to attain your latest score.
Learn more about Skill IQ Verified assessments.
Common questions and solutions
Use the following to solve common questions. See Introduction to Skill IQ Discovery for a glossary of terms.
Can my employer use Skill IQ suite assessments for employment, hiring/firing, or raise decisions?
Assessment results may be used by your employer as part of broader employment-related decisions. Please contact your employer directly with any questions regarding how your results will be used.
Do I automatically have access to all assessment types?
No—some assessment types like Skill IQ Verified assessments or Skill IQ Prep assessments may require assigned a license in certain plans. See Skills plan comparison for details.
Why can't I see the answers for some assessments?
Some assessments have limited or specialized answer banks and answers are hidden to protect the integrity and fairness of the assessment.
How can I find Skill IQ suite assessments?
Toggle your preferred assessment type(s) under the Content filter in browse. This shows standalone assessments. Learn more about exploring Skill IQ Discovery, Skill IQ Prep, and Skill IQ Verified assessments on their own pages.
How do I know if there's an assessment attached to a path?
While using search and browse, a path that includes an assessment will include an icon and tag indicating the type of assessment included. Not all paths have assessments attached to them.